2 Circular Needles

Learning to knit in the round with 2 circular needles is challenging, but well worth it in the end. Try this technique first with one sock, and as you become more comfortable you can perform the amazing feat of knitting 2 socks at the same time! This allows you to try on the socks as you progress in knitting them, and you avoid the dreaded “second sock syndrome”. (This happens when you finish knitting one sock and then don’ t have the heart or motivation to pick up and work the second sock.)

An important tip to make this method easier:

Create a distinguishing feature between the needles. This will make it easier to keep track of which needle is the back and which is the front. You don’t want to use anything that will obstruct your knitting. The best ideas are to use two different circulars or to make a small mark with a permanent pen on one cable.

First, cast on the necessary number of stitches onto one of the circular needles.

Slip half of the stitches purlwise onto the second circular needle. (The second circular needle has been rendered in green for clarity.)

Holding the needles parallel to one another, slide the stitches from the needle tips they are on to the needle tips at the opposite ends of the cables. This will ensure that the working yarn is hanging to the right of the stitches, ready to begin knitting.

Using the front circular only, pick up the free end and insert it into the first stitch on the front needle.

Complete the first stitch, pulling snugly with the working yarn to join the stitches into a round.

Work across the rest of the stitches on the front needle and allow the free end of the needle to drop.

*Turn your work.

Slide the stitches that are on what is now the front needle to the opposite needle tip.

Picking up the free end of the front needle, work this row and let the newly emptied needle tip drop.